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Silk became a prized export for the Chinese. Nobles and kings of foreign lands desired silk and would pay high prices for the cloth. The emperors of China wanted to keep the process for making silk a secret. Anyone caught telling the secret or taking silkworms out of China was put to death.
What was the punishment for telling the secret of how do you make silk?
She had discovered silk. But for thousands of years, the Chinese people kept the work of silkworms a secret. Death was the penalty for telling the secret. Long before the rest of the world learned how silk was made, the Chinese were trading this treasured fabric with people west of China.
Why did the Chinese keep certain technologies secret for so many years?
Silk – Silk was a soft and light material much desired by the wealthy throughout the world. It became such a valuable export that the trade route running from Europe to China became known as the Silk Road. They managed to keep the process for making silk a secret for hundreds of years.
Why did people want Chinese silk so much?
Silk is a fabric first produced in Neolithic China from the filaments of the cocoon of the silk worm. It became a staple source of income for small farmers and, as weaving techniques improved, the reputation of Chinese silk spread so that it became highly desired across the empires of the ancient world.
Why did the Chinese guard the secret of silk production so carefully the process was not perfected and not ready to share with others the knowledge would create too much bickering between silk manufacturers the Silk Road would most likely collapse without silk?
Why did the Chinese guard the secret of silk production so carefully? The knowledge would create too much bickering between silk manufacturers. The Silk Road would most likely collapse without silk production. The production generated great wealth for China as long as it was not shared.
How was silk stolen from China?
Legend has it that two monks hid silkworm eggs inside a bamboo pole to smuggle them out of China, where they were guarded as closely as state secrets. The monks then presented the eggs to Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople, where he created a thriving silk industry.
How did China lose its monopoly on silk production?
Knowledge of silk production eventually left China via the heir of a princess who was promised to a prince of Khotan, likely around the early 1st century AD. The princess, refusing to go without the fabric that she loved, decided to break the imperial ban on silkworm exportation.
What China gave to the world?
China has been the source of many innovations, scientific discoveries and inventions. This includes the Four Great Inventions: papermaking, the compass, gunpowder, and printing (both woodblock and movable type).
What secret did the Chinese keep?
The Chinese managed to keep silk a secret for over 1000 years. However, in 550 AD the secret of silk became known to other countries when two monks from the Byzantine Empire managed to smuggle some silkworm eggs out of the country.
What is the old name of China?
It is also thought that the ultimate source of the name China is the Chinese word “Qin” (Chinese: 秦), the name of the dynasty that unified China but also existed as a state for many centuries prior.Names of China. China Traditional Chinese 中國 Simplified Chinese 中国 Hanyu Pinyin Zhōngguó Literal meaning Middle or Central State.
What is the best silk in the world?
Mulberry Silk The careful breeding, strict diet, and attention to detail makes this the most sought-after silk in bedding, and arguably the finest silk in the world.
Which country produces the best silk?
China Silk Production. China is the largest raw silk and silk fabrics producer in the world. Japan. Japan is an important raw silk and artificial silk producer in the world. France. India. Italy. USA – United States of America. Russian Federation. Pakistan.
Which country is birthplace of silk?
A Brief History of Silk The production of silk originates in China in the Neolithic (Yangshao culture, 4th millennium BC). Silk remained confined to China until the Silk Road opened at some point during the later half of the first millennium BC.
Why did the Chinese guard the secret of silk so carefully?
The Chinese guarded the secret of silk production so carefully because: They wanted to be the only people who knew how to make the valuable fabric. This answer has been confirmed as correct and helpful.
Why did the Chinese guard the secret of silk production so carefully quizlet?
1c Why did Chinese keep making Silk a secret? They didn’t want other people to know about it because it was a valuable trade good in distant lands. If other people know about it, then it wouldn’t be so valuable.
Who produces the most silk today?
China Rank Country Silk Production (in metric tonnes) 1 China 146,000 2 India 28,708 3 Uzbekistan 1,100 4 Thailand 692.
Who stole the secret of silk from China?
In 552 AD, the two monks sought out Justinian I. In return for his generous but unknown promises, the monks agreed to acquire silk worms from China. They most likely traveled a northern route along the Black Sea, taking them through the Transcaucasus and the Caspian Sea.
Who found silk?
According to Chinese legend, Empress His Ling Shi was first person to discover silk as weavable fibre in the 27th century BC.
How many years did China maintain a monopoly of silk?
The Chinese were so grateful for her discovery that they named the princess a goddess and patron deity of weaving. From that historic moment, the Chinese discovered the life cycle of the silkworm and for the next 3000 years were to keep their monopoly of silk.
What was the greatest impact of the Silk Road?
The greatest impact of the Silk Road was that while it allowed luxury goods like silk, porcelain, and silver to travel from one end of the Silk Road.
How is silk manufactured in China today?
Silk Production from Silkworm Cocoons After eight or nine days, the silkworms (actually caterpillars changing into moths) are killed. The cocoon filaments might be 600 to 900 meters long! Several filaments are twisted together to make a thread. The silk threads are woven into cloth or used for fine embroidery.
What China has invented?
the four great inventions – papermaking, printing, gunpowder and the compass, Ancient China contributed countless other inventions to the world, how many other creations do you know? Below is a list of the 20 inventions created by ancient Chinese and some may surprise you.
What was invented in China 1400 years ago?
Papermaking, printing, gunpowder and the compass – the four great inventions of ancient China-are significant contributions of the Chinese nation to world civilization. China was the first nation to invent paper.
Which products are made in China?
Here are just some examples of the products you can find being manufactured in China: Clothing and fashion accessories. Tech accessories and gadgets. Makeup and cosmetics. Phones and computers. Children’s toys. Pet supplies. Outdoor and travel products.
